Australia’s national savoury spread has been in the news of late.
A murderer who claimed his human rights as an Australian were breached because he was refused Vegemite in prison has failed to overturn the ban.
Andre McKechnie sued the Victorian Department of Justice and Corrections after he was refused the salty, yeast-based condiment in prison.
Justice Claire Harris said that although Vegemite is a part of the Australian culture, the Victorian department has every right to control the food they chose to serve.
Especially (I might add) to people who have been convicted of murder.
So, no sympathy from me.
Vegemite was invented by food technologist Dr Cyril P Calister in 1922 for the original manufacturer Fred Walker—who ran a competition to find a name with ‘Vegemite’ coming out the winner.
What you may not know, however, is that in order to compete with an existing British product called ‘Marmite the name was changed in 1928 to ‘Parwill.’
It was a joke, you see: if Ma might, then Pa will! (Not a very good joke, I grant you.)
The re-launch fell flat, and ‘Vegemite’ went back to being ‘Vegemite’—as it has been ever since.
In WWII it became part of the survival rations of Aussie soldiers, and in 1954 an advertising agency came up with a jingle for the product that put the phrase ‘we’re happy little Vegemites’ into Aussie English.
It also gave us the expression ‘Vegemite moment’—a moment that you absolutely love or absolutely loath.
In other words, there is no middle ground.
And it got this name because visitors to these shores don’t always react as enthusiastically to this thick, salty, black sandwich spread as the native born.
The latest issue of The Spectator Australia is in newsagents now. In the back (in the Lifestyle section) is my little 'Language' column. This week it gives the final and definitive answer as to why we say, 'Raining cats and dogs.'
FOR A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO THE DAILY NEWSLETTER SCOLL FURTHER DOWN THIS PAGE >>>>>>
BOOKS:
* My latest book is called Pray Like This. To look at prayer I do what I do in these Ozword columns: I go through the most famous prayer in the world (The Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Our Father) and unpack it word by word—each chapter being a short word-study on a key word in that prayer. There is a total of 21 words studies in all. To find out more, here’s a link to the publisher’s website (where you can buy a copy if you wish): Pray Like This – matthiasmedia.com.au
* My book is Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries -- containing 50 new stories I have written about the great detective. You can find it on Amazon. Just go to Amazon and type in Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries in the search panel. Or use this link: h Amazon.com.au : Sherlock Holmes 5-Minute Mysteries Kel Richards
* My book "Defending the Gospel" is now in a second, fully revised, edition. You can find it here: Defending the Gospel – matthiasmedia.com.au
* If you're looking for my recent book "Flash Jim" you'll find it here -- Flash Jim, The astonis
hing story of the convict fraudster who wrote Australia's first dictionary by Kel Richards | 9781460759769 | Booktopia
* You can find all Kel's books currently in print here -- Booktopia Search Results for 'kel richards'. We sell books, hardback, paperback, audio, CDs.
* And also here -- Amazon.com.au : Kel Richards
* And you'll find more here -- Search: 4 results found for "Kel Richards" – matthiasmedia.com.au
* Many of Kel's out of print books can be found at ABE Books -- Kel Richards - AbeBooks explaining words explain the term
BY THE WAY...
If you'd like to see my A-Z list of Aussie slang, you'll find it here in the Australian Geographic website -- A-Z list of Aussie slang. Here’s the link: The A-Z of Aussie slang - Australian Geographic
The liveliest part of this website is usually the Q and A page -- be sure to check it out from time to time.
